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Category: New Age Blog

New Age Physical TherapyBlogNew Age Blog
By nxg New Age Blog , , , , ,

Physical Therapy: Important Sports Rehabilitation for Athletes

Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy bayside ny

For the intelligent player, there is simply no connection between general recovery after an injury and rehabilitation after a sports-related injury. For one, their aims are different. Sport-specific rehab covers beyond improvement. It focuses on the mechanics and capabilities of your sport to make you play again with equal or even greater performance than earlier. 

When your body is used to the difficulties of fast activities, necessary rehab just isn’t sufficient. You need an expert sports physical therapist to take you back into the best situation to respond to the sport you love.

Why Athletes Need Sport Specific Rehabilitation?

Sports injuries are especially common as more people try more normal lifestyles and encourage their children to participate in youth sports. Research finds 8.6 million Americans suffered a sports-related injury in one year. Some injuries can be treated at home while some require any hospitalization. You will likely require physical therapy if you are hospitalized for a sports injury.

Physical therapy treatment is necessary for a complete recovery after injuries related to sports. Usually injured body parts must be immobilized or relaxed while they heal. During the process of healing, those muscles and bones get out of work. As a process part of the rehabilitation, you need to utilize the injured area to build up muscle and recover normal function. Even Physical therapy instructs you how to do this carefully so you recover movement efficiently and avoid further injury. 

Sports physical therapy knowledge for athletes is very important. Whereas regular physical therapy helps patients recover the capacity to do regular living activities, sports physical therapy rebuilds your body’s ability to resist the severe stress of athletics. 

Advantages of Sport Specific Rehabilitation

Sport-specific recovery is the best way of action to rebuild and improve your original athletic abilities when you have experienced a debilitating sports injury. There are many other advantages to sports PT that will help in your rehabilitation, such as: 

–  Pain Control

–  Raised cellular metabolism to boost healing of damaged muscle

–  Improved flow in the injured area to supporting healing

–  Strengthening of relaxed tissues 

–  Restriction of powerful atrophy

–  Stimulation of common receptors

–  Recovery of a variety of plan and improved versatility in strong muscles

–  Improved dull drainage

–  Improved extensibility of connective and maintaining muscle formations

Eventually, sport-specific rehab is created to help you recover faster and more effectively while reducing pain and stopping further injury. Don’t just pay for extensive recovery. 

If you have a sports-related injury and think about responding to your sport, you need to go with expert sports physical therapists at Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy bayside NY. As a guide in sport-specific recovery, we receive individualized corrective regimens for our patients that help them improve and respond to their sport faster. Therapy services are created to help athletes over many sports and ability levels. 

The only way to recover to your sport in excellent fitness is to try sport-specific rehab with expert sports physical therapists who know your sport and what it needs to do your best.

By nxg Health Tips, New Age Blog, Therapy Blog

Importance of Body Weight Exercises

No time for the gym but still want to be healthy and stay in shape? Well, bodyweight exercises can benefit you! Even without additional weight, these exercises can build strength, muscle, and fitness while helping people lose weight. The goal is to use your own body weight as resistance, by pushing, pulling, or lifting it. And if you don’t have time, don’t worry! These exercises can be done whenever and wherever.

Your physical therapist will most likely include body weight exercises into your treatment program. He/she will cater the regimen to the specific condition at hand. Such exercises include strength training to build muscle and cardio to keep the heart strong.

Based on the patient’s starting point and age, the therapist will determine the pace of each session with the quantity of exercises and how many repetitions to perform. With body weight exercises, patients can complete their full range of motion without restraint, allowing joints to move freely and decreasing the risk of injury. You’ll be able do these exercises at home with little to no cost, as equipment is not needed.

Bodyweight exercises are considered “closed chain” which is the scientific term for saying moving the body through space instead of an outside object. Closed chain exercises have been proven to increase lower body strength by 31%, whereas, open chain exercises only increases it by 13%. The reason is because moving the body through space increase the amount of muscle fibers used. Thereby, yielding more results.

If you’ve been sitting at your desk all day, it’s probably best to not go and sit down on a machine at the gym once again. Body weight physical therapy helps patients reestablish good movements. It allows movement in multiple ways that can activate muscles in the back, knees, and shoulders, thereby, keeping them healthy. This may be a better alternative to machines that can be limiting.

Examples of bodyweight exercises include planks, push-ups, squats, sit-ups, marching, and lunges. Since physical therapists are professionals in body movement, it’s best to consult one to see which exercises are appropriate for you when dealing with an injury.

shoulder pain physical therapy
By NewAge New Age Blog

Shoulder Pain common types: How Physical Therapy help to reduce?

The shoulder is one of the most common body part in which injuries take place. There are multiple underlying conditions that can cause pain and limitations on movement. Shoulder problems can be obtained in many ways such as a fall, strain from reaching an object, or injury from sports.

However, most conditions emerge over time from overuse or simply aging. If left untreated, minor irritations and symptoms can exacerbate and become greater, more limiting problems that are harder to treat.

Common types of shoulder pain include:

  • Tendonitis/Tendinopathy: This condition results in the inflammation of a tendon causing motions such as reaching up or across the body to become painful. If left untreated, it can progress into a “frozen shoulder,” where the person loses some or all of his/her normal range of motion.
  • Bursitis: Bursitis occurs when the fluid filled sac (bursa) that cushions the tendons and joints, become irritated or inflammed. It may lead to symptoms such as pain and stiffness.
  • Impingement: Another condition that can lead to inflammation and pain is impingement of the tendons and bursa by surrounding bones. These symptoms can limit everyday activities such as reaching overhead, lifting, or carrying objects.
  • Rotator Cuff Injury: This occurs when the muscles that aide in movement weaken or tear causing weakness, pain, and limited range of motion.
  • Arthritis: Arthritis can also cause stiffness and pain during motion. This condition causes the tissue or cartilage that protects the joints to wear down.
  • Postural Dysfunction: Using computers or sitting for extended periods can lead to muscle imbalances in the shoulder which can progress to pain and injury.

Physical Therapy for Shoulder Pain

Although some injuries may require surgery to fix the “damages”, physical therapy alone can be used as treatment. In fact, shoulder pain physical therapy is effective in treating most shoulder conditions and injuries.

During the initial evaluation, the physical therapist will conduct a series of tests and assessments to determine the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. They may measure the patient’s strength, range of motion, evaluate his/her posture, and/or perform screening tools to pinpoint the exact area of injury.

The best treatment plans are individualized to each patient based on their needs and pain level. They may include exercises to increase strength, mobility, and flexibility, which are important factors in preventing the development of chronic shoulder issues.

The physical therapist may also use passive treatments such as a cold or hot pack, electrical stimulation, and/or ultrasound to alleviate pain and increase blood flow to the area. They may also conduct manual therapy such as mobilization or massage if deemed appropriate.

Since many shoulder conditions have the ability to become more severe, it’s important to seek help right away. Physical therapy may lasts between several weeks to several months depending on the condition and whether the patient underwent surgery. It’s important to adhere to the treatment plan and remain committed to obtain optimal results and faster return to normal routine.

By NewAge New Age Blog

What is Hip Pain? How to treat it with physical therapy?

Hip pain can occur on the outside of your hip, upper thigh, or outer buttock from problems with any muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues surrounding the hip joint. It can be felt in simple functional activities such as walking, running; sit to stand, and climbing stairs, therefore, limiting our daily lives.

There are many factors that can cause hip pain including physical injuries, previous injuries, repetitive use, pregnancy, strenuous physical activities, age, and musculoskeletal conditions. Even the type of shoes a person wears can lead to hip pain.

Lateral hip pain (on the outside) is a common category of hip problems experienced by patients. One possible cause for this can be Trochanteric Bursitis, a condition where the bursa, the fluid filled sac that cushions the joints and tendons connecting the gluteal muscles to the great trochanter, becomes irritated or inflamed. It can lead to an onset of symptoms such as pain, limited movement, and weakness of the hip muscles.

However, the most common cause for lateral hip pain is tendinopathy of the gluteus medius and minimus tendons. This condition can lead to tenderness on palpation and pain over the lateral hip and gluteal region when moving or exercising. Although some symptoms may appear mild, they can become severe over time with further agitation, therefore, it’s important to seek help right away. This can lead to a faster recovery time as well.

Arthritis, tendonitis, and muscle strains can also be possible factors. With arthritis, the hip joint becomes worn out resulting in hip, groin, or lower back pain, or even pain going down the leg. This condition can be caused by factors such as injury, repetition of movement, or aging. Tendonitis and muscle strains are caused by inflammation of the muscles and tendons surrounding the hip joint.

Physical Therapy Treatment

A physical therapist may first evaluate the patient’s gait to notice any abnormalities in hip movement during different phases of walking. They may continue with palpation, by touching various structures around the hip to locate the source of the pain.

They may also measure range of motion and strength to help direct treatment and to see if any muscle weakness or imbalance is causing the pain. The therapist may also ask if the pain interferes with daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or walking. He/she will take these observations and responses into consideration and create a treatment plan.

Treatments will vary for each person based on their needs and the severity of their condition. A treatment plan may include various manual techniques, appropriate modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound, and/or electrical stimulation, and specific exercises as the patient progresses.

The hip pain physical therapy program would focus on decreasing or eliminating pain, increasing range of motion, and increasing strength. Overall, the goal is to help patients return to their normal functioning mobility so they are able to resume their daily lives.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
By NewAge New Age Blog

Physical Therapy for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Ever get a painful or uncomfortable clicking in your jaw while chewing? Or stiffness as soon as you wakes up in the morning? If you do, you may have problems with your temporomandibular joint.

The TMJ is located where the mandible (jaw) meets the skull. A thin disc separates the bones and it aids the mouth in opening and closing. When it becomes loose, it can shift more than usual resulting in a clicking or popping sensation. In the worst case scenario, the disc can get stuck causing the mouth to remain locked open.

Another factor in developing problems with temporomandibular joint is Arthritis as the disease can damage the cartilage within the joint. The most common symptoms people with TMJ dysfunction experience are pain and limited movement of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.

TMJ dysfunction is more prevalent among the younger population and 5 to 12 percent of Americans may suffer from this disorder. It’s important to treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction before symptoms exacerbates because it can interfere with diet and sometimes require surgery to fix. Physical therapy is a great route in potentially correcing many problems that can arise from temporomandibular joint.

Treatment

The physical therapist will start by evaluating the degree of the condition. They may ask you questions about type and duration of muscle, joint, and facial pain, any difficulty with chewing, and any clicking or popping sound present. Manual therapy can be very effective as it helps decrease muscle, joint, and facial pain as well as frequency of spasms.

With this information, they can determine a treatment plan by using a combination of stretching, joint mobilization, soft and deep tissue release, and/or modalities to increase the range of motion and strength of the joint.

They may educate patients on techniques they can practice and good habits to adapt in order to regain normal jaw function. The physical therapist can also help post-operational patients by minimizing scar tissue and tightness of the surrounding muscles.

Good Habits to Remember

  • Posture: Be aware of your posture in any setting where you tend to hold your head forward and slouch your shoulders (i.e. sitting in front of the computer or in your car).
  • Diet and Chewing Changes: Cut your food into small amounts and stray from opening your mouth wider than the thickness of your thumb. Avoid food that would require prolonged chewing (i.e. gum). Chew your food with your molars instead of your front teeth.

Tongue Positioning: Produce a clucking sound by positioning your tongue on the hard palate of the mouth. Placing the tongue in its resting position can provide muscle relaxation and appropriate nasal breathing which aids in reducing pain.

Postural Dysfunction physical therapy
By NewAge New Age Blog, Therapy Blog

What is Postural Dysfunction?

Postural dysfunction, also known as “poor posture”, occurs when we position our spine in unnatural positions such as rounding our shoulders and protruding the head. This can place great stress on the vertebrae as well as the joints and muscles in the surrounding area. It’s important to correct our posture before too much pressure accumulates leading to the onset of more pain.

Essentially our body is designed for movement. It’s not meant to stay stagnant for long but today, more and more people are adapting stationary lifestyles and habits (i.e. sitting at work for long hours, watching television, or using the computer).

As technology continues to boom, more time is spent looking down at phones and tablets causing our bodies to maintain a flexed posture far longer than what’s appropriate. In fact, the ideal stance is where the ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles should be aligned.

A number of factors can cause posture problems including:

  • Muscle Tightness: If a muscle continues to be shortened, it will eventually accommodate that position by becoming shorter. For instance, sitting for long periods can cause our hip flexors to shorten, thus, interfering with our gait and causing a flexed forward posture.
  • Muscle Weakness: If a muscle continues to be lengthened, it will eventually become weak due to overuse. For instance, sitting for long periods can cause our gluteus Maximus muscle to lengthen which increases the possibility of atrophy. This can cause lower back pain and less hip mobility, ultimately leading to poor posture when we stand.
  • Soft Tissue Shortening or Adhesions: When a joint remains immobile, it can become stiff and lose some of it’s range of motion.
  • Poor Neuromuscular Control: Injury can alter neuromuscular control, thus, affecting joint stability and posture.
  • Inflammation: Inflammation can cause muscle spasms, guarding, and changes in posture.

How can physical therapy help?

Postural Dysfunction Physical therapy is a great method to correct poor posture and restore proper balance. A physical therapist will observe your posture and educate you on good habits to maintain. Most treatment plans concentrate on reducing compensations and strains while aiming towards the optimal load on muscles and soft tissues.

You may also receive an exercise prescription to strengthen specific muscles and to correct body alignment. It’s important to note that’s everyone’s body is designed and shaped differently; therefore, every treatment plan will be individualized to meet goals and needs.

Your treatment plan may include:

  • Assessment and diagnosis of postural habits
  • Postural education and training
  • Electrotherapy
  • Manual therapy and soft tissue massage
  • Joint mobilization
  • Postural taping
  • Corrective exercises and movements to improve flexibility, strength, and posture
  • Activity modification advice
  • Advice regarding ergonomic work stations

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Physical Therapy for Gait and Balance
By NewAge New Age Blog

Get Professional Physical Therapy for Gait and Balance

Gait defines our manner of walking and any correlated dysfunctions can deviate our walking from the norm. They can transpire from several underlying medical disorders including ones that involve the inner ear, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, neuropathy, stroke, vertigo, multiple sclerosis, disc problems, and musculoskeletal abnormalities such as fractures.

The onset of gait and balance problems is very common as we grow older. It’s important to treat this issue as it could lead to falling, one of the major causes of injury among the elderly population.

Treatment

Most treatment plans for balance and gait physical therapy abnormalities involves exercises to strengthen the lower extremities. The main goal is to build up muscle back to its original state or above so the patient can perform activities of daily living without difficulties.

The physical therapist will individualize the treatment program based on the patient’s needs, goals, and how much they can tolerate without injury or onset of pain. Every program would be catered to the patient’s specific condition. The best exercise programs will be changed routinely based on the patient’s progress to optimize muscle strength and balance.

Your treatment may include:

  • Pre-Gait Training. Your physical therapist may ask you to perform simple activities that can help improve your gait such as standing on one leg, marching in place, and walking heel first.
  • Gait Training. Your physical therapist will observe, educate, and help you retrain your gait. Since an underlying vestibular, neurological, or muscular condition may be present, training will differ from patient to patient. Also, if your doctor requires you to use crutches after a surgery, your physical therapist will teach you how to use them properly while walking and using the stairs. Ultimately, the program will be modified to ensure the safest training.
  • Balance and Coordination Training. Your exercise prescription may include balance activities to help stabilize your walking pattern.
  • Neuromuscular Reeducation. If any inactive or weak muscle groups are affecting your gait, your therapist may enforce neuromuscular reeducation techniques to activate them.
  • Bracing or Splinting. If your gait dysfunction is caused by the weakness or paralysis of a ligament, your physical therapist may teach you how to use adaptive equipment, like a brace, splint, or cane, to help you move.

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By NewAge New Age Blog, Therapy Blog

Signs, Types and Treatment of Physical Therapy for Neck Pain

The neck bears a considerable amount of weight; as much as one-seventh of the body’s weight! It’s one of the most unrestrained body parts but pain in this area can limit our range severely. Many people try to alleviate their symptoms by taking pain killers; however, this does not stop the pain from returning. Instead, the best solution is to locate and treat the underlying problem and physical therapy is great in doing just that.

Physical Therapy for Neck Pain

Signs and Symptoms

Neck pain can affect any age group and it ranges from a dull ache to a sharp, intense pain. In more severe cases, it can travel to the arms, shoulders, upper back, chest, and head. In fact, the most common complaint is pain occurring in the form of a headache.

Neck problems can also prevent movement because of muscle stiffness, tenderness, and tension. This can limit our participation in activities of daily living such as looking down to read a book and turning our head to look behind our shoulders.

Types of Neck Pain

The source of most neck pain is strained neck muscles. People can place stress onto the area with the most simplest of actions. Common ways that cause strains, sprains, or spasms include poor posture, looking down at your phone, carrying a heavy bag, and sleeping in an odd position.

Falling or whiplash is another way to cause the problem. For instance, in a car accident, your neck may go backward and then forward, in a whip like motion, a movement likely to harm the area. Other impact or force-related trauma can cause similar injuries.

If muscle knots, tension, or stiffness is left untreated, it can lead to chronic neck pain that lasts for three or more months. It’s capable of spreading to the following areas: shoulders, chest, upper back, and/or arms causing weakness, tingling, and/or numbness to develop.

Thus, it’s important to address neck pain in its early stages before it exacerbates and limit our mobility even more. Apart from physical, additional symptoms of chronic pain include fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

Treatment

Physical therapy treatment for neck pain may include:

  • Applying ice, heat, and/or electrical stimulation
  • Muscle energy technique
  • Joint mobilization and soft tissue massage
  • Cervical traction (light stretching of the neck)
  • Postural corrections as well as ergonomics consultation
  • Strength and stretching exercises
  • Neural mobilization

Neck Stretches: It’s optimal to include stretching exercises in the treatment plan to increase range of motion and flexibility of the cervical joints. It can also relieve the stiffness that accompanies the pain.

Neck Strengthening: Strengthening exercises can improve posture, which in turn decreases recurrent flare-ups of pain.

Aerobic Conditioning: Aerobic exercises can benefit blood flow to the neck and upper back muscles and soft tissues, thus, loosening the muscles and increasing range of motion. Also, after 30 minutes of cardio, our body naturally produces endorphins, a “painkiller” that can help relieve symptoms.

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By NewAge New Age Blog

Important Physical Therapy after Car Accident Injury

A motor vehicle accident can be something that will change your day or your life. It is very important that injured victim takes professional help after accident.

Physical therapist is one the key provider in treating many motor vehicle accident injuries. Physical therapy can help to promote healing, decrease pain, increase flexibility, increase mobility and restore function. Physical therapy also is a preferable option to surgery, which should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Most common injuries after car accidents are head injuries, neck and back injuries, chest injuries, contusion, lacerations, organ injuries, fracture, sprain, strain.

Car Accident Physical Therapy

Head injuries, injuries to brain can be very severe. Emergency responders will stabilize patient and take them to emergency room to make sure about injuries and extend of injury. Patient might have x-ray, scans, blood work then physician decides treatment plan. Fractures or other life threatening injuries may require hospital stay and or even surgery.

Most common injury is whiplash. Driver or passenger may have neck pain or muscle pain in upper back with or without radicular pain in hand/arm. Weakness in arm can happen in severe cases. This can happen from sudden jerk to neck which moves neck suddenly forward and backward. This causes strain, sprain in muscles. Patient can have disc problem in some cases.

Some patient also develops back pain from sudden jerk and could have numbness and radicular pain in legs if there is disc involvement.

In most cases, Patient will be referred to physical therapy. Physician will refer a patient to physical therapy after car accidents to treat their pain, aches and to get them back to their prior function level.

At New Age Physical Therapy our skilled physical therapist will evaluate your condition and your needs in detail and plan out your treatment which can bring you back to your normal life. Our goal is always to give you quality care and restore your function to prior functional level.

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By NewAge New Age Blog, Therapy Blog ,

Tips for Avoiding Lower Back Pain

Is a lower back pain interfering with your life? You are not alone! Nearly four out of five people experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. Lower Back Pain takes various forms, from a persistent dull ache to sudden sharp pain, and has many causes.

Sometimes it results from a sprain, fracture, or other accidental injury. It can stem from a disease or medical condition, such as herniated disc, arthritis, fibromyalgia, or spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord runs). However, many people develop back pain because they’re overweight or sedentary.

Most lower back pain usually gets better within a few days or weeks, and surgery is rarely necessary. However, even small episodes of back pain are the result of weakness in the core muscles and usually lead to longer, more painful episodes in the future if you don’t take care of the underlying problem.

Here are a few tips that are surprisingly effective at preventing back pain and keeping it from returning:

  • Get more exercise. If your back is hurting, you may think the best way to get relief is to limit exercise and to rest. Studies show that frequent changes in position and regular physical activity can help ease inflammation and muscle tension faster in the back.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Extra pounds, especially in your midsection, can make back pain worse by shifting your center of gravity and putting strain on your lower back. Staying within 10 pounds of your ideal weight may help control back pain as well as all the other health benefits.
  • Quit smoking. Nicotine in smoke, restricts the flow of nutrient-containing blood to spinal discs, so smokers are especially vulnerable to back pain.
  • Sleeping position. If you’re prone to back pain, talk with our physical therapists about the best sleeping position. What is most important is to be in a comfortable position that you can sleep in to achieve the most rest. Sleeping on your side with your knees pulled up slightly toward your chest with a pillow between the knees is best during the first 15-30 minutes in bed. Prefer to sleep on your back? Put one pillow under your knees and another under your lower back. Try to avoid sleeping on your front.
  • Improve your posture. Find a good chair to sit on. Avoid soft couches or chairs that put you in a slouched position. Find a chair that will allow you to keep your feet flat on the floor when you sit. With standing, try to alternate your positions and walk around if possible. Have one foot forward when standing and switch this every 10 minutes.
  • Watch how you lift. Don’t bend over from the waist to lift heavy objects. Bend your knees and squat, pulling in your stomach muscles and holding the object close to your body as you stand up. Don’t twist your body while lifting. If you can, push rather than pull heavy objects.
  • Use supportive shoes. A good pair of shoes, with cushion can reduce pressure on your back. Avoid using high heels as they shift your center of gravity and strain your lower back.
  • Keep your wallet in your front pocket. Don’t put your wallet in the back pocket of your pants. Sitting on a wallet shifts your balance when sitting causing discomfort and back pain.
  • Avoid heavy bags. If you use a briefcase or handbag, make sure you have only what you need to lighten the load. Use a bag that can strap over the opposite shoulder, so the weight is more evenly distributed. When carrying a heavy bag or case without straps, switch hands frequently to avoid putting all the stress on one side of the body.

There is a lot that you can do to prevent back pain and alleviate quickly when it starts. The important part is to work with your physical therapist to address the underlying cause of your back pain. This puts you on the right path to a healthy back that will support you pain free for a lifetime.

To learn more about our back and neck program, helping you attain a strong, healthy back, contact us today!

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